Tyrell Sutton remains committed to Alouettes: 'This is my team'

Tyrell Sutton, according to a source, could have been traded last October from an Alouettes team that was about to miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season. Instead, the veteran tailback opted to remain with Montreal.

Tyrell Sutton, according to a source, could have been traded last October from an Alouettes team that was about to miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season. Instead, the veteran tailback opted to remain with Montreal.

“Where did you hear that from? It’s an irrelevant question. I didn’t go anywhere, and I’m not going anywhere. Whether you ask me or not … it’s an irrelevant question at this point in time,” Sutton told the Montreal Gazette on Monday, after the Als announced he signed a new contract for 2018.

Sutton has spent his entire Canadian Football League career with the Als, starting in 2013, has no desire to test free agency — he could have hit the open market Feb. 13 — and hopes to spend his entire career with Montreal.

“This is my team. I’ve been here since the beginning. I’m not going to jump ship like that. I’ve pushed out a lot of good running backs to get this spot. Do you think I’m just going to give it up?” asked Sutton, a native of Akron, Ohio, who makes his year-round home in Montreal.

“I’ve always wanted to play my career in one place. If I get that opportunity, I’m going to take it.”

Sutton turned 31 last month, making him yet one more player on the league’s oldest roster — one that Reed vowed, at the end of the season, would become younger. But Sutton remains a tailback who runs hard and is one of the few productive offensive players on a team that has long struggled to score points.

Montreal Alouettes running back Tyrell Sutton runs with the ball against the Ottawa Redblacks during Canadian Football League game in Montreal Friday August 29, 2014.John Mahoney /
The Gazette

He led the Als in 2017, rushing for 843 yards on 152 carries while scoring five touchdowns in 14 games. He also caught 44 passes for 312 yards. In 60 career CFL games, Sutton has produced 3,156 rushing yards while scoring 14 times. He also has nearly 1,200 career receiving yards. Sutton spent time in the NFL with Green Bay, Carolina and Seattle.

“Tyrell was one of our most physical players last season, creating holes when there sometimes weren’t any and stretching plays when they seemed to be over,” Reed, who couldn’t be reached for comment, said in a press release. “He’s devoted to his team as well as his teammates and we’re excited to have him back.”

While Sutton made the playoffs his first two seasons with the Als, he arrived a year following the departure of head coach Marc Trestman and on the tail-end of quarterback Anthony Calvillo’s career. Sutton has long been one of the most vocal advocates as this team searches for consistency at head coach and quarterback.

“You have to take the good with the bad,” he said. “Even the Buffalo Bills went to the playoffs for the first time since (1999). Anything can happen. I’m not a guy that’s going to jump ship and go where the grass is greener.

“I’m not afraid of hard work or putting in the time to make guys better,” Sutton added. “I’m not afraid to make myself better, even if it looks like I’m stuck in quicksand. I know I’m moving. I know we’re getting better. The results might not always show, but I know we’re getting better. I have to be optimistic. I wouldn’t have signed if I wasn’t optimistic about what’s going on around here. I moved out a lot of people to get this spot. I’m not about to run away just because we’ve had a few bad seasons.”

Reed, who will be attending GM meetings this week in Banff, still has some significant potential free agents to re-sign over the next five weeks, including Chris Ackie, Boris Bede, Phil Blake, Tevaughn Campbell, Michael Carter, Don Oramasionwu, Brian Simmons and Brandon Stewart among the starters. Cornerback Jonathan Mincy worked out for at least 12 NFL teams and will sign down south, while receiver Alex Pierzchalski recently announced his retirement on social media.

The team’s plans at quarterback also remain uncertain. Veteran starter Darian Durant is due a significant off-season bonus next Monday, but the organization might be loath to spend it if it doesn’t believe Durant’s the guy moving forward. Matt Shiltz and Antonio Pipkin, both inexperienced, are under contract while Drew Willy’s a potential free agent.

Other CFL QBs who were potential free agents — Trevor Harris, Jeremiah Masoli, Brandon Bridge and James Franklin — have signed new deals; Franklin with Toronto after being traded by Edmonton. And Hamilton’s Zach Collaros was traded to Saskatchewan.

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